Optical and structural investigation of Eu3+ ions in Nd3+ co-doped magnesium lead borosilicate glasses

The Eu3+ ions doped MgO-PbO-B2O3-SiO2-Nd2O3 glasses have been prepared by melt-quenching technique. The optical and the structural characterizations are carried out for these glass samples. UV-Vis-NIR absorption spectra have prominent absorption bands in the Vis-NIR regions because of spectra materials Eu3+, Nd3+ ions in the glass network. Luminescence spectra are recorded with an excited wavelength of 355 nm; the Eu3+ doped glasses have seven luminescence bands. The Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters, radiative transition probabilities and branching ratios are estimated for the observed Eu3+ luminescence bands in the spectra and compared with other literature data for Eu3+ in various compounds. The influence of Eu3+ ions on structure of the glass network has been studied by means of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy. The polymerization of the glass network takes place by the addition of Eu3+ ions due to the replacement of bonds B-O-B, Si-O-Si with more resistant B-O-Si, Si-O-Pb bonds. Along with spectroscopic parameters some physical parameters like density and refractive index are measured for these glasses. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.